The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service along with the Nolan County Soil and Water Conservation, Dow, DuPont and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will conduct the Southern Rolling Plains Range Workshop beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 14 at the Nolan County Coliseum Annex in Sweetwater.
“Now that we are finally getting some rain, this workshop will center on restoring and conserving our native range,” said Zachary Wilcox, AgriLife Extension agent in Nolan County. “All of the speakers for this event are well known throughout our region. Some are agency people and some represent companies, but all are longtime experts in their particular field of expertise. We will also visit some field sites, so participants can actually see what some of the speakers will address. All in all, I predict this to be one of the most informative range educational opportunities of the season.”
Individual preregistration is $10 with an RSVP to the Nolan County Soil and Water Conservation District office in Sweetwater at 325-235-4485, Ext. 3 or mandi.ligon@tx.usda.gov[3] or to Wilcox at 325-236-6912, s-wilcox@tamu.edu[4]. Late registrants will be charged $15. Fees are due upon arrival at the workshop and include lunch.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units in the general category will be available for those with a valid private applicators license.
Topics and speakers will be include:
– How Grass Really Grows (Range Management Considerations), Dr. Ron Sosebee, professor emeritus, Texas Tech University, Lubbock.
– Rainfall Recharge, Dr. Alyson McDonald, AgriLife Extension range specialist, Fort Stockton.
– Brush Control Update, Dr. Charlie Hart, Dow contract consultant, Stephenville.
– Re-stocking Your Operation, Dr. Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Fort Stockton.
– The Value of Forage, Kent Mills, Hi-Pro range nutritionist, Snyder.
– Weed Control on Rangeland, Gerald Hobson, DuPont range and pasture specialist, Weatherford.
On–site field visit topics and speakers will include:
– Chemical Treatment, Ralph Porter of Abilene and Joe Franklin of San Angelo, Dow and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service representatives, respectively.
MAT 28 Fence Line Treatment, Dr. Allen McGinty, Dow contract consultant, San Angelo.
– Mechanical Brush Management, Paul Dent, rancher and brush control contractor, Maryneal.
Along with AgriLife Extension, Wilcox said the workshop is a collaborative effort of the Nolan County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dow and DuPont.
For more information, contact Wilcox at 325-236-6912, s-wilcox@tamu.edu[4].